Sounds backwards, but maybe get a quad-core PowerMac G5 if you want more oomf? It'll run Leopard but not Snow Leopard (not really a big deal). Only issue is you'd have to stick with software that's for the PPC or UB when most are moving to Intel only.

Sounds backwards, but maybe get a quad-core PowerMac G5 if you want more oomf? It'll run Leopard but not Snow Leopard (not really a big deal). Only issue is you'd have to stick with software that's for the PPC or UB when most are moving to Intel only.

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I'm not moving away from intel. And I beachball my mini FAR more often than I want to tolerate.

For me, I don't want to deal with windows as my main machine [ever] at this point so the choice is pretty easy for me. But i'm going to say beachballing is much better than the shit you'll have to deal with on Windows.

I think a MP would be overkill honestly. I know you hated the iMac for whatever reason but it's really not much slower than the MacPro's. They're only limited by gfx card options and RAM.

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I think it was because of the hassle of the iMac's 27" faulty display that apple neglected to fix for so long. I'd be pretty frustrated about it too, but now that its supposedly fixed, I myself wouldn't be hesitant to purchase a 27" iMac w/i7 if I can get rid of my macbook pro.

Is a Macbook Pro out of the question? It would me more powerful than the Mac Mini, functional as a desktop with your the secondary monitor, keyboard and mouse. It's also a mobile machine (an advantage over your current setup) if you need to work on the go.

I think it was because of the hassle of the iMac's 27" faulty display that apple neglected to fix for so long. I'd be pretty frustrated about it too, but now that its supposedly fixed, I myself wouldn't be hesitant to purchase a 27" iMac w/i7 if I can get rid of my macbook pro.

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i was told it was "fixed" (by the internet and apple) plenty of times while i had mine. the last straw was when the apple store told me they'd done all they can do, talk to apple care and apple care said they can't do anything without the apple store seeing it so would i like her to make an appointment for me. after i said no, she said (without ever seeing my display) that my display was within spec and there was nothing more she could do.

bottom line is, the imac was exactly what i wanted, and there is no way i will buy another of this generation. that leaves the mini, which i don't want to do but might, a pro, which is more than i want to spend and windows.

Is a Macbook Pro out of the question? It would me more powerful than the Mac Mini, functional as a desktop with your the secondary monitor, keyboard and mouse. It's also a mobile machine (an advantage over your current setup) if you need to work on the go.

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thats an interesting point.. i couldn't run two aux monitors off it though could it?

I just think it is funny how people completely write something off from one experience. Did you lose anything when you bought it besides time? If not, suck it up an try again. If it fails again, you can whole heartedly say, "fuck that".

thats an interesting point.. i couldn't run two aux monitors off it though could it?

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Not sure, but you could use the screen of the MBP as the second? I actually use my MacBook Pro this way. It runs closed and uses my Dell 2405 as the monitor / USB hub / card reader. I have all my photos on a FW800 drive and my iTunes library, movies, and Time Machine on a Drobo (with a Time Capsule as a secondary weekly backup). My work documents are all in sync across 5 other Macs using SugarSync.

FWIW, I think this is the best option if you're between a Mac Mini and a Mac Pro (since the iMac isn't an option). The portability and power at a price point between the two is going to be hard to beat with any other Mac setup....bringing us back to your original post of whether or not to move back to Windows...

I just think it is funny how people completely write something off from one experience. Did you lose anything when you bought it besides time? If not, suck it up an try again. If it fails again, you can whole heartedly say, "fuck that".